Lance Carlson Email & Phone Number

Longmont, Co, Us

Boulder, Colorado

Design & implementation of: real-time embedded systems, firmware, electronic circuits, and PCB design. Specializing in rapid prototype and product development, IP creation, as well as in-depth design, analysis, and testing. I also help clients solve difficult technical problems with electronic products, agency certifications (such as FCC, CE), manufacturing, and supply chain.Recent work includes real-time signal processing firmware in multi-core processors, robots, wireless consumer devices, medical sensors, real-time audio distribution over networks, specialty sports wearables, RF-based home automation and smart energy, audio-over-RF, specialized solar tracking systems, solar power measurement devices, and motor control. Have assisted numerous clients in solving EMI problems and achieving FCC and UL certifications for complex RF and Industrial products. Other experience in: data storage, consumer electronics products (many types), and semiconductors.Capabilities include: invention (28 patents granted), system-level design, analog & digital electronic circuits, PCB design & layout, components/semiconductor selection & sourcing, servo control systems design & implementation, motor control, microcontrollers, firmware/software development, systems debugging, rapid prototype construction, program/operations/supply-chain management (source & manage contract manufacturers, vendors).

Co-founded the company and served on the Board of Directors. Created and built early prototype whole-home multimedia content delivery systems including hand-built RF-networked universal remote controls (designed circuits and firmware) to achieve initial funding. Developed initial product system architecture and IP, then went on to develop advanced yet low-cost product version for the RF-networked remote controls (with IR also) based on TI MSP430 microcontroller and CC1101 radio IC. Led hiring activities and acted as a senior technical resource for the engineering team. Assisted the start-up in other areas: managed the finances, managed the company records, and developed complex financial models/plans to facilitate operations and funding efforts. Also managed HR, facilities, and IT.

During founding: System Architecture & Lead Servo design/implementation for world's first low-cost 1" disk drive including ICs, circuits, control loops, and firmware (TI DSP) for spin & actuator systems. Also created analysis & measurement tools used by development team.Later went on to implement and bring up HDD manufacturing process in China (from birth of the first drive...), train staff, improve yields. Then extensive work in the field with customers (Asia and elsewhere) to integrate 1" HDDs into MP3 players, cell phones, GPS, etc., including mechanical, electrical, and software integration. Developed solutions for connecting ATA disk drives to variety of processors not having formal ATA interfaces. Resolved issues with low-level storage drivers and drop sensors to improve reliability and performance. Extensive collaboration with Samsung to develop world's first HDD mobile phone. In a marketing role, created MRDs for new products to ensure fit with customers' needs.

Technical Seminar Instructor teaching numerous courses world-wide on disk drive technology and disk drive servo technology. Top instructor for KnowledgeTek with consistently outstanding reviews from students and KnowledgeTek customers for energetic, enthusiastic, and clearly understood presentations. Researched and developed new course material for advanced subjects including creation of slides & drawings used in the course materials.Also during this time I worked as an independent engineering consultant developing electronic products (hardware & firmware) and solving technical problems for clients.

Create platforms (hardware & firmware development) for DSP-based hard disk controller chipset, with focus on very robust and highly adaptable (to different mechanical platforms) servo control system (spin and head positioning) which could operate with equal ease on hard drives, high-capacity floppy drives, and cartridge disk drives. Invented and patented advanced adaptive control system to resolve large mechanical runout issues in customers products. Created detailed Matlab/simulink models to analyze non-linear friction in customers products leading to improved designs with better performance. Assisted wide variety of customers to implement the chipset into their products and provided key customers (mostly Asia) on-site development assistance to bring their products to market quickly. Participated in next generation ASIC design inventing a number of improved functions (patented).

STMicroelectronics purchased the storage controller division from Adaptec in late 1988 - see detailed description for Adaptec just above.

Created/implemented new test methods/process for Maxtor's first 1" high (form factor) disk drive product. Built & managed Product Engineering teams in Singapore hard disk drive factory (yields, FA, quality improvement, customer support). Special assignments throughout Asia to resolve key customer & key vendor issues on motors and electronic components. Developed shock sensing systems for early 1.8" disk drives, developed & implemented advanced servo systems for early 1.8 & 2.5" disk drives (DSP-based hardware/firmware design) including advanced algorithms to improve seek times (patented). Modeled physics of DC brushless motors and designed 100% interrupt-driven spin motor control system in firmware. Helped develop and created first implementation (including firmware) for new spin/servo controller ASIC. Developed & deployed unique firmware debugging methods and measurement/analysis tools for hard disk drives which were used throughout Maxtor for years.

Develop automated test equipment for hard disk drives including high performance analog/digital circuits, PLLs, PLDs. Lead electrical engineer (then managed group) for MiniScribe's first 3.5" disk drive. Special focus on resolving critical techinal issues for key customers in the field such as IBM, Unisys, Zenith, Compaq, and ACER. Relocated to Singapore to start & manage manufacturing group running special test & FA process for key customer and won the business.

Developed and constructed a variety of custom electronic equipment used by professional music groups such as lighting control systems, power amplifiers, audio signal processing devices, etc.

Bachelors, Physics

Magna Cum Laude, GPA 3.83 Received Regents Scholarship award First place award for design of microprocessor based "mouse/maze" project.

Engineering - Control Systems

Completed several upper and graduate level courses on Control Systems (remotely attended)